Writing-machine.



No. 896,539. PATENTE D AUG.18,1908.

E. B. HESS.

WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 11, 1907.

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No. 896,589. PATENTED AUG. 18

E. B. HESS,

WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11,1907.

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WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION TILED NOV. 11, 1907.

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

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M ym/fix (fQ M No. 896,589. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

E. B. HESS.

WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 11 190 7 4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Age: Invenwr: I f 41 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. HESS, or NEW YORK, N. Yf, 'ASSIGNOR T0 ROYAL TYPEWRITE COMPANY, or

' HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' WRITING-MACHINE Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed November 11, 1907. Serial No. 401,561.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. HESS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New York, have invented certain Im rovements in Tritin Machines, of which te following is a spec' cation.

This invention relates to ribbon mechanism.

It comprises a novel arrangement of a paratus whereby automatic reverse of tlie ribbon is effected and direct.manual operation of ribbon in either direction permitted: and also means of adjusting the throw of the ribbon to insure with respect to the several finger pieces of the machine, proper relation, at the moment of printing, between the t pe and a selected zone of a polychrome rib on to thereby eliminate the danger of having the lower ends of such letters as and c, encroach at .the bottom upon an adjoining zone or extend beyond the lower edge of the ribbon, and similarly to insure that the upper ends of letters such as d shall not extend above the upper edge of the ribbon or encroach upon the upper zone of the ribbon when printing is being effected from the lower zone.

In the accompanying drawin s Figure ,1 is a general plan view, partly bro en away, of so much of a machine as is deemed desirable to illustrate this invention: Fig. 2, a detail plan view on a larger scale showing the ribbon reverse devices: Fig. 3, a front elevation thereof: Fig. 4, an elevation of one end of the rocking lever that eifects reverse of the ribbon feed: Fig. 5, a rear elevation of the ribbon reverse devices: Fig. 6, a section through Fig. 5, on the line 6, 6: Fig. 7, a rear elevation similar to Fig. 5 showing a modification: Fi 8, a detail longitudinal View showing a rey lever and the pawl for driving the ribbon spools in reverse direction: Fig. 9, a detail view showing the end of the rocking ribbon reverse lever engaged by an obstruction on the ribbon or on the spool type:

Figs. 10 and 11 show a section of bichrome ribbon having placed thereon the letters d, a, y, to indicate the relation of the zones of the ribbon to the type at the moment of impact of the type: an Fig. 12 is a detail longitudinal view indicating the ribbon vibrator adapted for use of a polychrome ribbon and actuating devices therefor.

1 indicates key levers equipped with usual finger pieces thatmay be pivotally mounted iii any appropriate way.

*2 indicates the type bars normally lying toward the front of the machine and pivotally mounted in a segment 3. j-The arran ement may be that of ordinary front stri emachine construction. Below the type bars and segment and above the key levers there extends transversely between the side plates of the machine a frame 4 in which are mounted two rotatable shafts 5 carrying upon their adjacent inner ends crown ratchet wheels 6, 6, and having at their outer ends cranks by which they may be rotated by hand. Each shaft 5 has a bevel pinion 7 gearing with a pinion 8 on the shaft of a ribbon bobbin spindle 9. The bobbins are disposed respectively at the right and left hand sides of the machine and the toothed faces of the crown ratchets 6 face each other bein disposed suitably adjacent each other-and equi-distant from the longitudinal center line of the machine. On the front of frame 4 is rigidly secured a transverse plate 4 from which there extends upwardly a standard 7 in the end of which is pivoted at its center a lever 10 whose ends are inclined upwardly and respectively overlie the bobbins 9. Each end of the lever is formed with a flange 10 sub stantially at right angles to the body of the lever and formed with a slot or recess 11, the open end of which is enlarged as seen in Fig.

4. These recessed ends of the lever are to be engaged by projections brought into action by the travel of the ribbon. In this instance such projections are shown mounted on the bobbin tapes 12 and are in the form of projecting headed studs 13 (which when the tape is wound enter sockets 13 in the hubs of the bobbins) the shanks of which enter the recesses 11 in the ends of the rocking lever 10 and operate to throw it alternately from one the other. This movement is effected when attached at its lower end to a projection The disposition of this.

on the lever 20. spring 23 is such with reference to the axis 19 of the pawl that when the pawl is moved into engagement with one of the crown ratchets, the reaction of the spring tends to maintain it and when swung laterally to engage the other crown ratchet, the line of strain of the spring passes to the other side of the axis 19 and. tends to hold the pawl in engagement with the latter ratchet.

26 is a universal bar above which lie the key levers -1. It is connected by link 26 with the free endof lever 20. When the universal baris depressed, pawl 17 is drawn downwardly and when the universal bar rises the pawl engages a tooth of one of the crown ratchet wheels and advances it one step. In this way automatic step by step feed of the ribbon is ei'iected in either direction according to the position of the feed pawl determined by the position of lever 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the ribbon on the right hand bobbin has run out and the projection. 13 on the tape of that-bobbin is about to en gage the right hand end of lever 10. effect of such engagement will be to elevate that end of the leverand shift pawl 17 to the crown ratchet at the right.

27 indicates a ribbon guide of any appro.

priate' construction of which there is to be oneadjacent each bobbin and 28 indicates an idler roller over which the ribbon passes and of which, of course, there will be one at each side of the machine. The guides 27 act as means to insure engagement of the studs 13 with the slots or notches in the bent ends of lever 10. These rilibon guides, 27, are of a well known construction and are made either of sheet metal or of wire and, in either case, each has a slot through which the rib hon asses.

side games, or side plates ofthe machine and project inwardly into appropriate relation to the ribbon.

29 is the ribbon shown as having two zones 30, 31 of different color or character.

32 is the usual ribbon vibrator such as is employed in front strike machines. t may be operated as hereinafter described or in other suitable ways.

it has not been thought necessary to show the laten and other details of a typewriting mac. ine not relating particularly to the subject matter that is claimed herein.

it is desirable to employ in connection with the ratchet wheels detent pawls. Such pawl. are marked 33 there being one for each The i The guides are secured to the ratchet wheel. They are pivoted at 34 on -Fig. 5, the feed pawl is swung to the right,

one of its lateral projections 37 strikes a projection 38 on the corresponding detent pawland throws the latter out of engagement with its ratchet wheel. Spring 35 of this detent pawl passing to the other side of the axis of the awl holds its end against a stop pin 39 on t e standard 7. When the feed pawl is swung to engage the other ratchet, it strikes the projecting o crating end 40 of the other detent pawl anrFthrows it into engagement with. its ratchet with which the feed pawl also passes into engagement. During this movement of the feed pawl, its other projection engages the projection 38 of the detent pawl with a pin 45 on the downward extension 14,

of lever 10. This spring pressed notched lever may be called an impulse device. Contiguous inclined Walls of the notches 43 43 meet.,.inrming at the lower edge of arm 43 a ll-projection. There is direct, or interlocking, connection between arm 43 andlever 10, and also between lever 1.0 and the rocking pawl. The parts are so proportioned and arranged, thatprojection 13 traveling with the ribbon gradually moves lever 10, without disturbing or affecting the feed pawl, until pin 45 has assed from one notch. in arm 43 (over the e .ge of said ii-projection.) on to the inclin ed wall of the other n otch, which wall un der stress of spring 44 acts upon the pin giving it a quick impulse of movement that suddenly completes the reversal of lever 10 and causes the driving pawl to be thrown quickly from one driving ratchet to the other without interruption of feed of the ribbon. The s ecific arrangement of lever 20 with the fee pawl pivoted on it, reaction spring 22'and link connection to the universal bar wasdevised by another and is therefore not specifically c aimed herein.

in the .modifieation shown in Fig. 7, the feed pawl 17 and associated parts are constructed and behave as already described ex cept that in Fig. 7 the coiled spring 23 of the ward printing position.

feed pawl is attached directly at its lower end to an arm 46 extendingu wardly from the universal bar 26 and to W ich the feed pawl 17 is pivoted at 46. When the universal bar is depressed, this link or arm 46 carries downwardly the feed pawl and its spring 23. In this case thelever 20 and s ring 22 are not required, the usual universa bar's ring serving to effect the return movemento that bar and the upward feed thrust of pawl 17. In other respects, the construction and behavior is the same as that of the organization shown in Figs. 2-6 inclusive.

The organization described is com act and economical in construction and e cient in operation. Thesprin 22 (Fig. 5) may also serve as the universa bar spring. I have shown crown ratchets since, in my judgment, they are best ada ted to perform the required 0 erations descri ed but obviouslychanges in t iis respect as well as other details may be made without departing from the principles of construction and o eration of the organization illustrated. he operator may, by manipulation of the rock lever 10 or of the feed awl direct, so control the pawls that the ribbon may be manually wound in either direction.

The means illustrated in Fig. 12, for actu ating the ribbon vibrator are disclosed and claimed by me in my application, Ser. No. 390,702, filed August 30, 1907. The universal bar 26 operates the escapement devices 47 and overlies a block pivoted in the forwardly extending horizontally disposed arm 49 of a bell crank lever'which may be located centrally of the machine and whose upright arm 50 has attached to it a rearwardly extendirig link 51 that is connected with the downwardly extending shortarm 52 of a bell crank lever whose forwardly extendin longer arm 53 is jointed to the ribbon vibrator 32. The block 48 may be set in different angular positions by means of a link 54 attached thereto and, as described in my a plication above mentioned, extending to evices in the key board by which it may be effectively operated. The block 48 has two operating surfaces 55 and 56 of different radius or elevation. As shown in Fig. 12, the surface 55 of greatest elevation is in a position to be engaged by the universal bar and therefore on depression of that bar such amplitude of movement will be imparted to the arm 50 of the bell crank lever as to afford a maximum upward movement of the ribbon vibrator to bring into printing position the lower zone of the ribbon. If the u )pcr part of the block 48 be swung rearlv, then the lower surface 56 thereof will underlie the universal bar which then will operate to produce a less extent of movement of the ribbon vibrator so that the upper zone of the ribbon will be brought into W hen the upper part of the block is swung to the front, there is no surface thereof with which the universal bar will contact in its downward movement and. therefore the ribbon" vibrator will remain stationary as is required forstencil work.

The width of the respective zones of a ribbon is in practice very small being only about one-quarter of an inch. Owing to inevitable variations in the distance between the respective key levers and the universal bar, and for other reasons, there has been a great deal of difficulty in attaining such perfect adjustments of parts in machines of this class as to insure that the type to be printed from will not encroach upon an adjoining zone of the ribbon or extend beyond either the upper or lower edge of the-ribbon as the case may be. In printing, for instance, the small letter -d from the upper zone of aribbon, unless the throw,for that particular type bar, of the ribbon vibrator is extremely accurate there is danger either that the lower portion of the letter will encroach upon thelower zone of the ribbon, or, on the other hand, that its upper end will extend beyond the upper edge of the ribbon. The same is true of those letters, such as g, having parts extending below the line.

Fi 's. 10 and 11 show on a somewhat enlarged scale a bichrome ribbon and what should be the disposition with respect to the zones of the ribbon of letters such as a, d and y at the moment of impression. To afford adjustment for each of the printing positions of the ribbon with respect to each of the type, I have adopted the following novel means. On the under edge of each key lever over the universal bar there is a projection 57. By, if necessary, filing or alining these projections, the exact point during the depression of the key lever at which it should engage the universal bar may be arrived at with the greatest nicety tl'iereby affording control of theexact extent of movement of the ribbon vibrator so that in each instance those type impressions which extend above and below the line may be effected with certainty from the desired zone. There is a relatively wide mar in of adjustment for letters such as (L. For etters such as d and y, the adjustment should be such as that at the moment of im ression the tops and bottoms of the type wil be equi-distant from the upper and lower edges of the zone of the ribbon from which the im ression is taken.

In tie ribbon reverse mechanism herein described, the ends of the lever 10, or those parts of the reverse controllingdevices that are operated upon by the projections traveling with and adjacent the ends of the ribbon, are so disposed that the part or surface operated upon by such projections, to effect reverse of the ribbon, occupies a position in a line tangent to the hub and parallel with which travels the end of the ribbon that draws forward the lever operating) 1proj ection on the bobbin tape. Since the r1 on passes from the spool over a guide, as 27, in unwinding a full spool the path of the ribbon becomes gradually more and more into parallelism with saidtangential line, the lever being out of contact with the ribbon and bobbin tape until finally it is engaged by the projection adjacent the ribbon end, The strain that is then imposed is in one direction only and that is the direction most effective to produce the operation of reversing the ribbon driving devices; thus,,when the lever 10 is employed the line of strain of the button 13 upon the end of the lever is at right angles to traverse horizontally aline passing throu h the axes of the lever. Moreover since t. e ribbon is not in contact with the lever there is an absence of friction that would tend to retard travel of the ribbon and require additional power. When the button. or pro'ection 13 is referred to as adjacent the en of the ribbon, it is, of course, to be understood that it may be, as shown, attached: to the usual tape which is secured to the bobbin and to the outer end of which the ribbon is joined by suitable connecting means.

I claim:

1. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a ty ewriting machine comprising-ribbon bob in spindles located respectively at each side of the center line of the machine, ratchet wheels for driving them located adjacent each other intermediate said spindles, a driving gear connection between each ratchetwheel and its corres onding ribbon bobbin spindle, a ratchet wheel feed pawl located intermediate the two ratchet wheels and adapted to be moved out of engagement with one wheel and into engagement with the other, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having its ends extending adjacent said spindles, an operative connection between the lever'and the ratchet feed pawl whereby when the lever is rocked the pawl is transferred from one ratchet wheel to the other and means for automatically rocking the lever at the time the ribbon feedis to be reversed.

2. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a t writing machine comprising ribbon bohhih s indles located respectively at each side of the center line of the machine, ratchet Wheels for driving them located adjacent each other intermediate said spindles, a driving gear .connection between each ratchet wheel and corresponding ribbon bobbin s indle, a ratchet wheel feed pawl adapted to e moved out of engagement with one wheel and into engagement with the other, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having its ends extending adjacent said :3 indles, an operative connection between the ever and the ratchet feed pawl whereby when the lever is rocked the awl is transferred from' one 'tc'het whee to the. other, means for automatically rocking the lever at the time the ribbon feed is to be reversed and means whereby the respective ribbon bobbin spindles may be manually rotated. H

. -3. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a front strike key lever tfiewriting machine comprising rlbbon be in s indles located res ectively at each side 0 the center line of the machine, ratchet Wheels for driving them located adjacent each other intermediate the t" pe bars and key levers and intermediate the ribbon bobbin spindles, a driving connection between each ratchet wheel and corresponding ribbon bobbin spindle, a ratchet wheel feed pawl adapted to e ,put out of engager'nent with one wheel and into engage ment with the other, a lever pivoted intermediate its endsand'having its ends extending adjacent said s indles, an o erative connection between t e lever an the ratchet feed pawl whereby when the lever is rocked the awl is transferred from one ratchet whee to the other and means for automatically rocking the lever at the time th ribbon feed is to be reversed.

4. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a tv ewriting spindles located at each side of the center line of the machine, crown ratchet wheels located facing and adjacent each other inter mediate said spindles, a ratchet feed pawl pivoted intermediate .said wheels, adapted to engage either of them and having lateral projections on each side of its ivot, detent pawls one for each ratchet w eel rocking about fixed axes and adapted to be thrown out of and into engagement with their wheels by said projections, a lever pivoted intermediate the ratchet wheels and having its ends extending adjacent said spindles, a recessed projection extending from the lever and emracing a projection on the feed pawl whereby when the lever is rocked, the feed pawl is transferred from one ratchet wheel to the other and means Whereb the lever is automatically rocked at the tlmethe ribbon feed is to be reversed.

5. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a t ewriting machine comprisingribbon bobbin spindles located at each side of the center line of the machine, crown ratchet wheels located facing and adjacent each other intermediate said spindles, a ratchet feed pawl pivoted intermediate said wheels, adapted to engage either of them and having lateral projections on each side of its pivot, detent pawls one for each ratchet wheel rocking.

about fixed axes and adapted to be thrown out of and into engagement with their wheels by said projections, a lever ivoted intermediate the ratchet wheels an havingits ends extending adjacent said spindles, a recessed projection extending from the lever and emracing a projection on the feed pawl whereby when the'iever is rocked the feed pawl is transferred from one ratchet wheel to the other, and means whereby the lever is auto: matically rocked at the time the ribbon feed is to be reversed.

6. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a typewriting machine, comprising a pair of ribbon bobbins located res ectively on' o posite sides of the center 0 the machine, riving ratchets o eratively connected therewith and locate bon deflecting guides, one for each bobbin, each located in a plane above its corresponding bobbin and over which the ribbon passes laterally to the ribbon guide, adjustable ratchet driving means whereby either ratchet may be automaticall driven, and means adapted to be clutche by a projection traveling with the ribbon to automatically adjust the ratchet driving means to effect reverse feed of the ribbon. I,

7. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a typewriting machine, comprising a pair of ribbon bobbins located respectively on opposite sides of the center of the machine, theirdriving spindles, a ear on each spindle, driving ratchets locater l intermediate the bobbins, their spindles, a gear on each spindle meshing with the gear of the corresponding bobbin spindle, ribbon deflecting guides, one for each bobbin, each located in a plane above its corresponding bobbin and over which the ribbon passes laterally to the ribbon guide, adjustale ratchet driving means whereby eit ier ratchet may be automaticall driven, and means adapted to be clutched y a projection traveling with the ribbon to automatically adjust the ratchet driving means to effect reverse feed of the ribbon.

8. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a type with t e gear of the corres onding bobbin spindle, ribbon deflecting gui es, one for each bobbin, each located in a plane above its corresponding bobbin and over which the rib bon asses laterally to the ribbon guide, adjusta le ratchet driving means whereby either ratchet may be automatically driven,,

means adapted to be clutched by a projection travehng with the ribbon to automaticallyadjust the ratchet driving means to effect reverse feed of the ribbon and means for manually revolving either ratchet .shaft to wind the ribbon in either direction.

9. A front strike typewriting machine comprising a platen, asegment" below the platen and ty e bars pivoted therein comined with ribbon bo bins located respectively on opposite sides of the center of the machine, driving ratchets one for each bobbin turning about axes at an angle to those intermediate the bobbins, rib-.

of the ribbon bobbins and locatbd between the bobbins, an operative connection between each ratchet wheel and its bobbin, a ratchet driving awl adapted to be engaged with either ratc et Wheel andmeans for o erating said pawl extending in opposite i rections therefrom to adjacent the ribbon bohbinsand constructed and arranged to be ,o erated by rojections traveling with the r1 bon to s t the pawl from one ratchet wheel to the other.

10. A front strike typewriting machine comprisin a platen, a segment. below the laten an ty e bars ivoted therein comined with ribbon b0 bins turning about axes arranged in a general direction fore and aft of the machine, bobbin driving ratchets one for each bobbin arranged intermediate the two bobbins and turning about axes having a general direction transversely of the machine, an operative connection between each ratchet and its bobbin, a driving pawladapted to be engaged with either ratchet wheel, pawl operating means extending therefrom to a jacent the respective bobbins and constructed and arranged to be 0 erated by projections traveling with the ri pivots, bobbin driving ratchet wheels located etween the ribbon bobbins and respectively operatively connected with the bobbins, adrivin awl for said ratchets adapted to be shifte From one ratchet to the other and pawl operating means extending therefrom toward the respective bobbins and constructed and arranged to be 0 erated by projections traveling with the rib on.

12. A front strike typewriting machine comprisin a platen, a segment below the platen an type bars pivoted therein com-' ined'with ribbon bobbins located respectively adjacent the ends of the segment bear ings therefor located in front of the type'bar oivots,.bobbin driving ratchet wheels'located tween the ribbon bobbins, respectively op eratively connected with the obbins and turning in bearings located in rear of the type bar pivots, a driving pawl for said ratchet adapted to be shifted from one ratchet to the other and pawl operating means extending therefrom toward the respective bobbins and constructed and arranged to be operated by projections traveling with the ribbon. 13. A front strike typewriting machine comprising a platen, a segment below the platen and type bars pivoted therein com bined with ribbon bobbins, bobbin actuating ratchets located between the bobbins and respectively connected therewith, a ratchet operating pawl adapted to be swung from engagement from one ratchet into engagement with the other and pawl controlling means normally out vof engagement or contact with the ribbon but constructed and arranged to be operated by projections traveling with the ribbon. I

14. A front strike typewriti-ng machine comprising a platen, a segment below the,

platen and type bars pivoted therein 'com ined with ribbon bobbins, bobbin driving ratchet wheels located between the bobbins and respectively operatively connected therewith, ratchet operating means adapted to be 'bined with ribbon bobbins located respectively on opposite sides of the center of the machine, a ribbon connected with both bobbins and adapted to be wound upon either, actuating ratchet wheels respectively operatively connected with the bobbins, ratchet wheel driving mechanism adapted to be dis engaged from one'ratchet and engaged with the other, controlling means for said mechanism extending to adjacent the ribbon bobbins to points lying in lines tangent to the hubs of the bobbins and parallel to which the inner end portion of the ribbon passes while being unwound, said controlling means being arran ed to be engaged by projections adjacent t e ends of the ribbon.

16. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a front strike ty ewriting machine comprising ribbon bob ins, bobbin drivin mechanism adapted to drive the re'spectiveiobbins alternately in opposite directions and comprising laterally extending controlling parts whose ends alternately occupy points in lines tangent to the hubs of the bobbins and parallel to which the inner end portion of the ribbon passes while being unwound, and are adapted to be operated upon by projections adjacent the ends of the ribbon.

17. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a front I strike typewriting' machine comprising a reverse lever arranged transversely of the maeoasse 18. In ribbon reverse mechanism for a frontstrike typewriting machine, a reverse lever, adapted to be rocked vertically, lying between the parts of the ribbon adjacent their spools and whose ends occupy, alternately, points lying in lines substantially tangent to the hub of a bobbin and parallel with which the inner end portion of the ribbon travels in leaving the bobbin, and which are adapted to be acted upon to effect rocking of the lever by projections traveling with, and adjacent the ends of, the ribbon.

i9. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a front strike typewriting machine comprisingribbon bobbins arranged respectively on opposite sides of the center of the machine, bobbin driving ratchet wheels arranged between the bobbins and operatively connected therewith, a double pointed swinging pawl adapted to be engaged with either ratchet wheel, a coiled extension spring applied to the pawl in such manner that its reactionholds the pawl in engagement with that ratchet which it is then operating and that the line of strain thereof passes to the other side of the pivot of the pawl when the latter is shifted into engagement with the other ratchet, means for rocking the pawl upon its pivot and having parts constructed and arranged to be acted upon by projections traveling with, and adja cent the ends of, the ribbon.

20. Ribbon reverse mechanism for a typewriting machine comprising ribbon bobbin spindles located at each side of the center line of the machine, ratchet wheels located facing and adjacent each other intermediate said spindles, a ratchet feed pawl pivoted intermediate said wheels, adapted to engage either of them and havin lateral projections on each side of its ivot, etent pawls one for each ratchet whee rocking about fixed axes and adapted to be thrown out of and into engagement with their wheels by said projections, a lever pivoted intermediate the ratchet wheels and having its ends extending adjacent said spindles, a recessed projection extending from the lever and embracing a I projection on the feed pawl whereby when the lever is rocked, the feed awl is transferred from one ratchet whee to the other and means whereby the lever is automatically rocked at the time the ribbon feed is to be reversed.

21. Ribbon reverse mechanism fora typewriting machine comprising ribbon bobbin spindles located at each side of thecenter line of the machine, ratchet wheelslocated facing and adjacent each other intermediate said spindles, a ratchet feed pawl pivoted intermediate'said wheels, adapted to engage either of them and havin lateral projections oneach side of its ivot, etent pawls one for each ratchet whee rocking about fixed axes I and adapted to be thrown out of and into en- 5 extending from the lever and embracing a projection on the feed pawl whereby when the lever is rocked the feed pawl is transferred from one ratchet wheel to the other, and means whereby the lever is automaticing laterally extending controlling parts whose ends alternately occupy points" in lines tangent to the hubs of the bobbins and parallel to which the inner end portion of the ribbon asses while being: unwound, and are -adapte to be operated upon by projections adjacent the ends of the ribbon and means in.

the path of:the ribbon acting to insure engagement of said projections and the ends of said controlling parts.

, 23 Ribbon reverse mechanism for a front StIl'kG. typewritmg machine comprismg a reverse lever arranged transversely of the machine and having endsljwhich alternately lie in lines tangent to thehubs of the bobbins and parallel to which the inner end portion of the ribbon travels while being unwound, and which are adapted to be operated u on when in said position by a projection a jacent the endof the ribbon and means in the path of the ribbon acting to insure engagementof said projections and the ends of the reverse lever.

24. Automatic ribbon reverse mechanism,

comprising reversible ribbon feeding means,

controlling means for the feeding means com prising a reverse lever with which, the ribbon is normall out Ofengagement, spring actu-, ated impu se means for effecting positive instantaneous actuation of the controlling means to cause reversal of the ribbon feeding means said impulsemeans becoming eflective on the controlling means in advance of the reversal of the ribbon feeding means,

thereby affording an uninterrupted feed of the ribbon during the act of reversin its feed, a projection traveling with the ri bon and adapted to engage and operate said re-- verse lever and means independent of thelever acting to guide the ribbon and insure engagement of said projection with the lever.

25. Ribbon reverse mechanismfor a front strike typewriting machine comprising a reverse lever that extends transversely of the machine from bobbin to bobbin under the type bars and over the key levers and whose ends alternately lie in lines tangent to the links of the respective bobbins and parallel ally rocked at the time the ribbon feed is to to which the inner end portion of the ribbon travels while leaving the respective bobbins, and means travelin with the ribbon adjacent its ends and adapted to operate upon the ends of the lever to move it and ef fect reverse feed of the ribbon.

26. In an automatic ribbon reversing mechanism, two independently operable ribbon feed ratchets, a pivoted feed pawl adapted to be rocked into two positions to alternately engage the respective ratchets, a reverse lever directly acting upon the pawl to so rock it and with which the ribbon is nor mally out of engagement, a projection traveling with the ribbon and adapted to engage and gradually rock the lever, and a spring actuated impulse device directly engaged by the lever and by it brought into effective operation, while the pawl remains in engagement with one of the ratchets, to positively react upon the lever to thereby effect instantan'eous rocking of the pawl into engagement with the other ratchet.

27. In an automatic ribbon reversing device directly engaged by the lever and by it brought into effective operation, while the pawl remains in engagement with one of the ratchets, to positively react upon the lever to thereby effect instantaneous rocking of the pawl into engagement with the other ratchet.

28. In an automatic ribbon reversing mechanism, two independently operable ribbon feed ratchets, a pivoted feed pawl, adapted to be rocked into two positions to alternately engage the respective ratchets, a reverse lever directly acting upon the pawl to so rock it.and with which the ribbon is normally out of engagement, a projection traveling with the ribbon and adapted to en gage and gradually rock the lever, an imulse lever having contiguous V-notches with which the lever enga es and from oneof which to the other the ever is gradually latter will act to quickly complete the movement of the reverse lever andeflect reversal of feed of the ribbon without interruptionthereof.

29. In an automatic ribbon reversing mechanism, two independently operable rib bon feed ratchets, a pivoted feed pawl adapted to be rocked into two positions to alternately engage the respective ratchets, a transverse reverse lever rocking about a horizontal axis, a projection traveling with the rib bon and adapted to engage and gradually pawl adapted to engage either ratchet, a

pawl reverse lever adapted to be operated by projections traveling with the ribbon, and a direct interlocking connection between the lever and the pawl intermediate the axis and free end of the latter.

31. In an automatic ribbon reverse mechanism, ribbon bobbin driving ratchets located adjacent each other, a pivoted driving pawl adapted to engage either ratchet, a pawl reverse lever adapted to be operated by projections traveling with the ribbon, a direct interlocking connection between the lever and the pawl intermediate the axis and free end of the latter and a spring actuated impulse device having direct interlocking connection with said lever and serving when brought in operation by the lever to quickly throw the pawl from one ratchet to the other.

32. In an automatic ribbon reverse mechanism, ribbon bobbin driving ratchets located adjacent each other, a pivoted driving pawl adapted to engage either ratchet, a pawl reverse lever adapted to be operated by projections traveling with the ribbon, a direct interlocking connection between the lever and the pawl intermediate the axis and free end of the latter and a spring actuated impulse lever having contiguous V-notches engaged by a projection on the reverse lever and serving when brought in operation by the lever to uickly throw the pawl from one ratchet to t e other.

33. In an automatic ribbon reverse mechanism, ribbon bobbin driving ratchets lo scenes oted intermediate its ends and having at each end a slotted flange with which the ribbon is normally out of engagement and a projection traveling with each end of the ribbon in a line substantially parallel with the flange and adapted to engage the slot therein. v

35. In ribbon reversing mechanism for a typewriting machine, a rocking reversing member having a vertically disposed slot in its end with which the ribbon is normally out of engagement, and a headed stud traveling with the ribbon in a line parallel with said slot and whose shank is adapted to enter the slot to effect actuation of said member.

36. In ribbon reverse mechanism for a typewriting machine, a ribbon bobbin, a guide to which the ribbon passes as it leaves the bobbin and a reversing member having its operating end between the bobbin and guide and normally disengaged from the ribbon, and a projection traveling with the ribbon and adapted to engage the end of said member.

37. In ribbon reverse mechanism for a ratchetto the other to thereby reverse the feed of the ribbon.

38. In ribbon reverse mechanism for a typewriting machine, ribbon bobbins, atransverse reverse lever pivoted to rock in a trans verse vertical plane and having a lateral proj ection adjacent its axis, bobbin driving ratchets adjacent said lateral projection and between which it is located, a standard also located between the ratchets and in which the lever has its bearing, a ratchet driving pawl located between the ratchets and adapted to engage either one and a loose but direct interlocking connection between the pawl and the lateral extension of the lever, a vertically movable spring sustained lever in which the pawl is pivoted and a connection between it and the universal bar of the machine.

to instantly throw the feed pawl from one 39. In ribbon reverse mechanism for a and the lateral extension or the lever, a verti- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subcfilly movable spring eustained lever in which scribed my name.

t e pawl is-pivoted, a connection between it and the universal bar of the machine and I EDWARD HESS spring controlled ratchet detent pawls piv- Witnessesi oted on the standard and controlled by the JOHN M. LEE,

driving pawl. I L. F. BROWNING. 

